Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has refused to blame his players in the wake of the 3-0 defeat suffered at the hands of Manchester City in the final of the League Cup on Sunday.

Nigeria international Alex Iwobi passed a late fitness test and was introduced in the 73rd minute with the outcome of the match held at Wembley already decided.

Asked if the players gave him 100 percent at Wembley,  Wenger told the national press in England at Wednesday's press conference : ''Yes of course. I’m long enough in the game than when you lose a big game people say the players didn’t want it long enough.

''Did we lose the game because of that? I’m not convinced.''

Wenger added : ''I’m quite amazed at how people analyse (the cup final) it looks like we lost against a team in Division 5 - we lost against a team that dominates English football at the moment. We have to take a bit of perspective.''

Iwobi and his Arsenal teammates will be hoping they can return to winning ways when they face Man City in a rescheduled Premier League fixture at the Emirates on Thursday.

The Hale End Academy graduate started the match day 11tie at the Etihad Stadium back in November.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel